Aftershocks rock Chile as president sworn in

AN AFTERSHOCK measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale and four other tremors rocked disaster-hit Chile yesterday, triggering a tsunami alert just minutes before billionaire Sebastian Pinera was sworn in as the new president.

The quake was the strongest aftershock of more than 200 which have shaken the South American nation since the massive 8.8-quake of February 27 which sparked a killer tsunami and left almost 500 confirmed dead.

The latest aftershock was centred 114km south of Valparaiso, where it caused some to flee in panic from the Chilean parliament as right-wing tycoon Pinera prepared to take over power.